CLECKHEATON stalwart Alan Bentley has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 62.
The second-rower started his rugby at Moorend before moving to Bradford, where he captained the club, moving back to Cleckheaton – where he was also skipper – when Bradford merged with Bingley in 1982.
Apart from being president, fixture secretary and press officer, Bentley fulfilled many other roles at Cleckheaton.
"He used to put the shirts out, mark the pitch and put the protectors on the posts," said club secretary Ian Johnson.
Bentley had also been a member of the club's finance committee and was briefly chairman of Cleckheaton Sports Club.
Johnson said: "He started playing for us when he was 17 and, apart from that, didn't finish until he was about 40. He will leave a big hole to fill."
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